ICICI Bank to sell 9% stake in ICICI Lombard to Fairfax

Mumbai: ICICI Bank has said it plans to sell additional 9% stake in its general insurance arm for about Rs 1,550 crore to Prem Watsa run Fairfax Financial Holdings of Canada.

Upon completion of the transaction, ICICI Bank will hold about 64% in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd, while Fairfax have 35%.

The bank said in a statement that its board has approved the sale of 9% shareholding in ICICI Lombard to its joint venture partner, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

Earlier, foreign partners were only allowed to hold 26% stake in an insurance venture which has now been increased to 49% after the passage of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act earlier this year.

The proposed transaction values the company at Rs 17,225 crore, it said.

The transaction reflects the company’s franchise as the leading private sector general insurer in India, the substantial potential for profitable growth of the business and the strong relationship between the joint venture partners, it added.